David Miller, deputy chief inspector of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), said the helicopter made a vertical descent into the roof of the bar.

"There were no emergency transmissions from the pilot before this accident. I can confirm that the helicopter does not have a flight data recorder. However, it does have a significant number of modern electronic systems on board and it may be possible to recover recorded data from those systems."

The crash is not being linked to any previous accidents involving choppers ditching in the North Sea.

The wreckage will be taken to the AAIB base in Farnborough, Hamps, for investigation.

RECOVERY: Firefighters and emergency services are working tirelessly at the site [GETTY]

Pilot David Traill, 51, died in the chopper along with police officers Kirsty Nelis, 36, and Tony Collins, 43.

Two victims who were inside the pub have been named as 48-year-old Gary Arthur, from Paisley, and Samuel McGhee, 56, from Glasgow.

Two private ambulances, escorted by Police Scotland outriders, left the scene of the tragedy an hour after the fuselage was winched out of the roof.

Firefighters, ambulance staff and police officers formed a guard of honour and saluted as the vehicles passed by.

Gary Arthur's daughter, Celtic and Scottish women's footballer Chloe Arthur, 18, paid tribute to him on Twitter, writing "you'll always mean the world to me, I promise to do you proud, I love you with all my heart."

SHOCKING: The search continues for more victims [SPLASH]

FLOWERS: A little boy leaves flowers for victims of the helicopter crash [GETTY]

The popular venue, sitting close to the River Clyde, was hosting live music on Friday night and was packed with more than 100 people when the tragedy happened at 10.25pm.

Twelve of 32 people taken to hospital continue to receive treatment, with three in intensive care.

Air accident experts have launched an investigation into what caused the helicopter to crash.

Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House said: "Until the helicopter is completely removed from the scene and the right people are in the premises and are able to look through the rubble completely and start to clear it, we cannot say about exact numbers.

"No one will be putting pressure on them in terms of time but things are proceeding, we are making progress and I know that people want to be reassured of that.

"It may appear that it's not going as fast as people want. The answer is it's painstaking and it's important that everything there is treated with the courtesy and respect it deserves."

He said that both constables were members of the helicopter unit and had both previously been commended for acts of bravery.

Today Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael visited the city to meet emergency service personnel before signing the book of condolence at Glasgow City Chambers.

Yesterday hundreds of people attended a service at Glasgow Cathedral, near the Royal Infirmary, where prayers were said and candles were lit for those caught up in the crash.

Condolences came from the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall yesterday, the day after messages of support from the Queen and Prime Minister David Cameron.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited some of those who were injured in Glasgow Royal Infirmary and said she felt humbled by the stories she had heard of off duty medical staff reporting for duty in the crash aftermath and members of the public queuing up to give blood the following morning.